>> THERE AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

A BIG DECISION FOR THE MAYOR ON WHETHER TO KEEP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CONTROVERSIAL SHOTSPOTTER SYSTEM.

CHICAGO ABSOLUTELY BIRTHPLACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

A NEW PBS SERIES EXPLORES THE ROOTS OF GOSPEL.

AND A RUNDOWN OF DIFFERENT ARTS AND CULTURE ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

UP NEXT, THE IMPACT OF SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY AS THE CITY CONSIDERS WHETHER TO RENEW ITS CONTRACT.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED.

COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING FOR MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW THE CITY'S CONTRACT FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL TECHNOLOGY KNOWN AS SHOTSPOTTER.

THE TECHNOLOGY RELIES ON MICROPHONES AND SENSORS TO IDENTIFY THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE AND ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S A USEFUL TOOL FOR CHICAGO POLICE TO GET TO CRIME SCENES FASTER.

CRITICS SAY THE TECHNOLOGY IS UNRELIABLE AND CONTRIBUTES TO OVER POLICING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

JOINING US NOW ARE FORMER CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT EDDIE JOHNSON ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS OF THE SECOND WARD, ROBERT VARGAS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND DIRECTOR OF THE U CHICAGO JUSTICE PROJECT AND FREDDIE MARTINEZ, THE DIRECTOR OF LUCY PARSONS LABS THAT SAY TRANSPARENCY, POLICE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIGITAL SECURITY NONPROFIT.

WE SHOULD KNOW.

WE DID ALSO REACH OUT TO SOUND THINKING THAT'S THE COMPANY BEHIND THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY.

THEY DECLINED OUR INVITATION.

I THINK THE 4 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

JOHNSON TO YOU FIRST.

HOW USEFUL DID YOU FIND THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY WHEN YOU'RE SUPERINTENDENT CPD VERY USEFUL.

AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THAT TECHNOLOGY AND AND I JUST GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

SO WE STARTED IN 2 MOST VIOLENT DISTRICTS IN CHICAGO.

>> 7 DISTRICT 11 DISTRICT KINGWOOD AUSTIN ON THE WEST SIDE AND DOING THAT FOR 6 MONTHS.

WE SAW LIKE A 50% REDUCTION GUN VIOLENCE.

IN THE ENGLEWOOD AREA.

SO THAT ALONE SPEAKS HOW USEFUL IT CAN BE.

SO I'M I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN IT.

I KNOW IT WORKS.

IT IT TAKES THE PLACE OF AND A LOT OF INSTANCES WHEN YOU PATROLLING NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S A FOR A LOT GUNSHOT VIOLENCE.

THEY TEND TO STOP CALLING THE POLICE.

ONE THING ABOUT SHOTSPOTTER.

WE DON'T YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A PERSON HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION.

IT AUTOMATICALLY ALERTS THE POLICE AND SO WE CAN RESPOND MORE QUICKLY THAN WE EVER COULD BEFORE.

>> ROBERT VARGAS, WHAT'S YOUR CONCERN WITH THE USE OF SHOTSPOTTER?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE RENEWED?

WELL, I THINK THAT THERE'S LARGE BODY OF RESEARCH SHOTSPOTTER AND IT'S IMPORTANT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN.

>> STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN SPONSORED BY A COMPANY SOUND THINKING STUDIES THAT ARE DONE INDEPENDENTLY AND ALSO STUDIES THAT ARE GOING IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO VERSUS STUDIES IN OTHER CITIES.

SO WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE THAT HAVE SENATE CHICAGO AN INDEPENDENTLY, THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT DELIVER ON ITS PROMISES.

THAT AS STUDY RECENTLY BY CONGRESS AT UC SANTA BARBARA.

FINDING FACT I THINK AFTER YOUR TERM IN OFFICE THAT IT ACTUALLY INCREASES POLICE RESPONSE TIMES.

ESPECIALLY DURING HOURS OF THE SHIFT THERE, PARTICULARLY BUSY.

>> PRETTY ROUTINE AS WHAT KIND OF CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS DO YOU THINK SHOTSPOTTER REES IS ON?

COULD LEAD OFFICERS CONDUCTING ILLEGAL STOPS SHORT ON AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING OWN DATA REFLECTS THEY'RE POLICE OFFICERS ARE USING HISTORICAL SHOTSPOTTER AS THE BASIS TO CREATE CREATE STOPS THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO DO.

AND SO THESE ARE ILLEGAL STOPS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT PEOPLE ARE FINDING IS THAT THESE ARE DRIVING ARREST ARREST WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAPPEN INTO WHAT WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY DOES ACTUALLY PROMOTION MASS INCARCERATION AND IT'S A REAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT OFFICERS MIGHT HERE OR MIGHT BE AWARE THAT THEY'RE FREQUENTLY GUNSHOTS OR SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS IN AN AREA THEREFORE FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON THAT AREA.

WHETHER OR THERE'S A LEGITIMATE REASON.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> REPORTS, INCLUDING AS YOU MENTIONED FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL, HAVE SHOWN THAT THE TECHNOLOGY ISN'T ALWAYS RELIABLE, MISS IDENTIFYING SOME SOUNDS AT SHOTS WHEN THEY ARE NOT AND THEN MISSING SOME ACTUAL GUNSHOTS ENTIRELY.

MORE THAN ABOUT 500 TIMES.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, ALDERMAN HOPKINS, YOU SEE THIS TECHNOLOGY IS RELIABLE AND WORTH OF THE SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THAT THE CITY SPENDS ON IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT ITS RELIABILITY.

IN FACT, IT'S MANDATED BY ITS OWN CONTRACT TO BE AT LEAST 90% ACCURATE.

SHOTSPOTTER DATA IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AS WELL AS CHICAGO SUGGEST IT'S ABOUT 97% ACCURATE.

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, IT'S 100% PERFECTION.

IS THE GOAL?

I MEAN, THAT'S COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC FOR ANY TECHNOLOGY.

DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE STREET LIGHTS IN THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT 5% OF THE TIME AS WELL.

SO SHOTSPOTTER DOES A VERY GOOD JOB DETECTING GUNFIRE TRIANGLE, WAITING IT LAYING THE POLICE KNOW WHERE IT'S LOCATED.

AND FROM THERE, IT'S A USEFUL TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE.

BUT AS FAR AS ITS RELIABILITY, I REALLY THINK THE DATA STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY WORKS THE WAY IT'S PROMISED.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED IN THE CITY GOING FORWARD.

I HOPE THE CONTRACT IS RENEWED.

IT'S REALLY WORTH 10 MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU'RE BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SAVES LIVES.

>> FREDDIE OF, YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO THE REPORTS IN THE RESEARCH THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT SAY THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS FAULTY.

ARE WE AWARE THAT THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THE TECHNOLOGY OVER THE YEARS?

SO THAT NUMBER IS EXTREMELY THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE COMPANY MAKES IS THAT 100% OF THEIR GUNSHOT ARE ACCURATE.

AND THEN WHAT THEY DO IS THEY BASICALLY.

SUBTRACT FROM THAT NUMBER.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY GET TO 97%.

THIS IS A STUDY THAT ON DATA REFLECTS.

AND SO FOR THE COMPANY TO COME OUT AND SAY THAT WE HAVE A 97% ACCURACY ON EXTREMELY BACK.

TYSON, EXTREMELY MISLEADING.

CAN JUST ADD SOMETHING I THINK I THINK THAT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

IS THAT THE GOAL POST?

CONSTANTLY MOVING.

>> SO SOME THINKING NOW, WOULD ADMIT?

WROTE ROUGH.

CLARK IS HIS NAME IN OP-ED PUT OUT.

CAME FORTH WAS FORTHCOMING IN SAYING THAT BY ITSELF IS NOT IT'S NOT A CRIME, REDUCING TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S IT ACCOMPANIED WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES.

AND AND SO WHAT MAKES THE CHALLENGE IN THE DISCOURSE AROUND?

REALLY HARD.

IS THAT SO I'M THINKING HE'S DEPLOYING A TACTIC THAT IS COMMON INDUSTRIES THAT ARE TRYING TO ALLUDE REGULATION TO MOVE THE COAL POST AND AND PREVENT CANCELLATIONS OF THE CONTRACTS LET ME JUMP QUICKLY.

>> SO, LISTEN, THIS IS FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY SEEN HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS AND SEEING THE BENEFITS OF IT.

AND I CAN ABSOLUTELY TELL YOU KEEPS NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER BECAUSE AS I THINK ONE OF YOU ARE JUST MENTIONED, IT INCREASES OUR RESPONSE TIME.

WE GET THERE A LOT QUICKER THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD.

IT TAKES THE PLACE OF PEOPLE WHO DISENFRANCHISED.

DON'T WANT TO CALL THE POLICE.

WE SHOT SOME INFIGHTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT HELPS US TO GET THERE.

AND THE OTHER THING TOO, YOU THEY MAKE ARRESTS BASED OFF OF IF REST LAWFUL LEGAL.

REST.

I SULLIVAN A TERRIBLE I HAVE NEVER HAD PERSON IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY OR HISPANIC COMMUNITY SAY TO ME THEN AND WANT MORE POLICE THERE.

ONE UPSET BECAUSE WE MADE TOO MANY FOR UNLAWFUL, UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.

>> EDDIE JOHNSON, GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW POLICE OFFICER RESPONDS TO SHOTSPOTTER ALERT.

I WOULD IMAGINE THE ARE GOING IN WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED AND THEY'RE WEARING AND THEIR RESPONSE IS PROBABLY HEIGHTENED, CORRECT?

THAT'S THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

SO THEY ONE OF THE I THINK ROBIN MENTIONED IS THAT IT?

>> IT WAS A LOT OF TECHNOLOGIES TOGETHER.

SHOTSPOTTER WAS ONE PIECE OF IT.

SO WE ALSO GAVE THE FIELD OFFICES CELL PHONES SO THEY COULD GO RIGHT TO THEM AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE DISPATCHED AT WHICH YOU KNOW, THAT, CRAIG, NOW A LOT OF LAG TIME GETTING SO WHEN THEY DO GET THAT CALL DID NOT GOING OUT WITH GUNS BLAZING, BUT THEY THEY DO HAVE A HEIGHTENED SENSE.

THE SHOTS HAVE BEEN FIRED.

SO BEFORE WHEN WE GET THESE CALLS WITHOUT THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY, MIGHT GET A PHONE CALL FROM A CITIZEN.

INSTEAD, I GOT SHOTS FIRED OUTSIDE HOUSE WHERE AS SHOTS BY DO TAKE US TO THE EXACT LOCATION BECAUSE WE KNOCK ON DOOR AND ASK A PERSON WITH THE SHOTS COME FROM.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I JUST HEARD ABOUT SHOTSPOTTER WILL PUT US RIGHT MET IN THAT AREA.

WE CAN LOOK FOR BALLISTICS EVIDENCE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THEIR SENSES ARE HEIGHTENED THAT THEY DON'T GET OUT WITH THEIR GUNS DRAWN THINGS LIKE THAT.

AS WE MENTIONED, ONE HAS BEEN FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO BELIEVE THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT'S SHOTSPOTTER CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVER-POLICING OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

FREDDIE, WHAT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE IMPACT OF THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SET THE STAGE THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS NOT RELIABLE UNLIKE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES LIKE YOU, I CANCEL A LIGHT BULB WITHOUT IT BEING TESTED.

AND INSTEAD WHAT IS HAPPENING IS TECHNOLOGY LIKE SHOTSPOTTER ARE BEING USED TO BASICALLY CREATE A TESTING LAB OF BLACK AND BROWN FOR SIGNS THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

AND THAT'S REALLY TROUBLING.

AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE WHY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WOULD NOT WANT THIS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> ALDERMAN CPD, WE KNOW AND WE KNOW THAT JOHNSON, THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME, BUT CPD HAS A WHOLE HOST OF SORT OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED CRIMEFIGHTING CENTERS DEPLOYED AROUND THE IN TANDEM WITH THE SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY.

IF NOT RENEWED.

DOES THAT RENDER SOME OF THOSE USELESS AND WILL COME JOHNSON AFTER THIS.

IT'S CERTAINLY A STEP BACKWARDS.

WE NEED TO BE GOING FORWARD WITH OUR USE TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE 2 NEW HELICOPTERS THAT ARE ON ORDER THAT WE SHOULD GET.

HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR.

>> THAT CAN PROVIDE AERIAL SURVEILLANCE.

WE HAVE LICENSE PLATE CHARACTER READERS DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BOTH FIXED AND MOBILE LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC DECISION SUPPORT CENTERS THAT ARE MONITORED.

24 HOURS A DAY.

>> WE'RE TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE WATCHING CAMERAS THAT HAVE VIEW OF CERTAIN AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO SHOTSPOTTER FITS RIGHT INTO THAT.

I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF TYING ALL THESE TOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER AND AND MAKING MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THEM.

IF WE DO RENEW THE SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY DOING RIGHT NOW.

THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO THAT 10 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING TO ANALYZE MICRO TRENDS IN SMALL AREAS.

WE CAN DEPLOY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS LIKE OUR CEASE-FIRE AND CURE VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO CRED.

WE CAN SEND THEM TO AREAS WHEN WE ARE TOLD BY SHOTSPOTTER THAT GUNFIRE IS INCREASING BECAUSE THE 9-1-1 CALLS A SUPERINTENDENT JOHNSON MENTIONED.

ALL RIGHT.

THE 9-1-1 CALLS DON'T TRACK WITH THE GUNFIRE INCIDENTS.

IN FACT, 80% OF THE GUNFIRE INCIDENTS THAT SHOTSPOTTER TRACKS DO NOT HAVE A CORRESPONDING 9-1-1.

CALL.

WE WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AT ALL.

IF IT WASN'T FOR SHOTSPOTTER.

COUPLE SECONDS LEFT JOHNSON ARE THOSE HOW CHANGED ARE THEY WITHOUT SHOTSPOTTER?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT WOULD DEFINITE PUNCH IN THE GUT.

YOU >> SHOTSPOTTER IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THAT.

IT RENDER THE CENTER'S USES, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE OBAMA MENTIONED.

IT'S STEP BACK, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST THINK THAT THE CITY WOULD WOULD WOULD REALLY BENEFIT BY CONTINUING THIS TECHNOLOGY.

AND I JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK EXAMPLE.

WHEN I STARTED WITH A SHOTSPOTTER, IT WOULD ALERT US TODAY THAT ONE PLACE THAT THE GUNFIRE ERUPTED FROM AND THEY'VE ASKED IT TO THE POINT WE THEN TRACE OF THE PERSON KEPT FIRING.

IT WOULD THEN GIVE US A TRACK OF WHERE THAT PERSON RAN, TOO.

SO IT INCREASES US.

TO THE POINT OF A POLICE EXPERT.

HE'S LIKE I THINK POLICE PERSPECTIVE IS IS VALUABLE.

>> BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS PHILANTHROPY OR THE PUBLIC VALUE IS FILING SINCE REPRESENT SEPARATES INTERRUPTED.

YOU THINK THIS IS GOOD.

NOW THERE'S THERE'S VERY, VERY RIGOROUS EXPERIMENTS THAT ALL OF HIS VAN PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT ARE ARE SUBJECTED CRIME.

IS THERE OTHER OTHER?

AND SO YOU MENTION YOU, BASS EARLY ON POLICE EXPERTISE.

THE POLICE RELY ON OUTSIDE FANS ALL THE TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE RESULTS THAT YOU FIND.

>> NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT ALL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BUT THANKS TO ROBERT VARGAS, FREDDIE MARTINEZ ALDERMAN BRIAN HOPKINS AND FORMER SUPERINTENDENT EDDIE JOHNSON TAKES EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU.

AND THE CITY'S COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS HOLDING A HEARING ON SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY TOMORROW EVENING AT 6.30, AT SAINT SABINA'S CHURCH.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.

UP NEXT, WE EXPLORE GOSPELS ROOTS IN CHICAGO.

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOO LEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> A NEW PBS SERIES FROM HISTORIAN PROFESSOR AND FILMMAKER HENRY LOUIS GATES JUNIOR EXPLORES THE HISTORY OF GOSPEL MUSIC AND ITS DEEP ROOTS IN CHICAGO.

IT PREMIERES NEXT MONDAY.

HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK.

>> THE STORY OF GOSPEL BEGINS WITH THE GREAT MIGRATION AS BUT MIGRANTS MADE THEIR WAY FROM THE DEEP SOUTH TO CITIES IN THE NORTH AND THE WEST.

AFTER THEY CARRIED THE SONGS IN THE PREACHING STYLES OF THEIR HOME CHURCHES RIGHT ALONG RIVERS IN GOSPEL MUSIC SON.

>> FORMED DISSEMINATED AND CHICAGO ABSOLUTELY THE BIRTHPLACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

>> 8 THAT RIGHT.

JOINING US, OUR DOCTOR, CYNTHIA, NONE DIRECTOR OF THE WOMEN'S CHOIR AT TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.

SHE'S ALSO THE MINISTER OF MUSIC FOR DAYSPRING MINISTRIES IN HAMMOND, INDIANA.

NONE TAKEN NUMEROUS TRIPS TO EUROPE TO BRING GOSPEL TO A BROADER AUDIENCE, WHICH WILL GET TO.

AND REVEREND CHARLIE DATES, PASTOR PROGRESSIVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CHICAGO WHO IS FEATURED IN THE NEW DOCUMENTARY.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

REVEREND 8, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY WHAT YOU THINK CHICAGO WITH SUCH FERTILE GROUND TO BE THE BIRTHPLACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC, CHICAGO.

>> ALMOST IN ITS DNA CARRIES THE UNIQUE STORY, A BURDEN AND BLESSING FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

TO THINK ABOUT A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SOUTH AND COMING TO COOK COUNTY ALONE.

AND WHETHER LIKE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY IS A STORY OF TRIAL AND STRUGGLE.

IT IS.

PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF HOPE.

AND I THINK CHICAGO HAS BEEN THAT KIND OF SEE BIT OF HOPE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE AND BUSINESS AND ATHLETICS TELEVISION.

BUT MORE PARTICULARLY CHURCH.

SO THAT MUSIC.

EMBODIES THE STORY OF CHICAGO IN A REAL SENSE AND THE HOPE THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOUND HERE AND STILL FIND HERE.

>> DOCTOR, 9 GOSPEL, AS WE KNOW, WAS BORN IN THE BLACK CHURCH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOME AN ART FOR ART FORM THAT HAS BECOME TRANSIENT AND TRANSCENDENT.

I DO GET PAID TO TALK FOR A LIVING, WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S BIG BECOME SO POPULAR ACROSS THE WORLD?

WHAT YOU THINK?

IT'S GOT UNIVERSAL I BELIEVE IT HAS UNIVERSAL APPEAL BECAUSE IT HAS EVOLVED.

>> AND WITH EVERY DECADE.

>> AS MORE AND PEOPLE ARE BORN INTO UNDERSTANDING, CREATE.

>> IT IS CAPTIVATING.

IT IS ALSO FROM THE SOLE.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE HIS FATE.

SO AS WE PROGRESS EVEN IN LIFE, THOSE THAT ARE FAITH-BASED, THIS IS WHAT REALLY WORKS.

>> THE DOCUMENTARY ALSO TALKS ABOUT THOMAS DORSEY AND HIS ROLE.

VERY IMPORTANT ROLE, OF COURSE, IN THE BIRTH OF GOSPEL IN PARTICULAR, HIS SONG TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD, WHICH WAS BORN OUT OF TRAGEDY.

>> IN 1932.

DORSEY'S WIFE AND SON DIED FROM CHILDBIRTH SPIRALING THOMAS INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.

>> I FELT THAT FEEL THAT >> ME AND JUST >> LIGHT TRADING AWAY AFTER TURNING TO HIM.

>> SOMETHING >> AND I AND >> 20 THINK THE SONG IN PARTICULAR WAS A SEMINAL TO THE GOSPEL GENRE.

GOSPEL IS THAT STORY OF A TRANSCENDENT HOPE BRANDIS.

IT THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE DEPTHS OF PAIN AND THE OVERCOMING OF TRAGEDY AND DESPAIR A DAWN OF A NEW DAY.

THAT'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

DORSEY, REGIS HAD BEEN A DEER MOMENT OF HIS LIFE.

AND IN THAT MOMENT.

HE COMES TO SEE THAT HOPE IS DISCOVERED IN THE VERY CONDITIONS THAT COST TO SPARE.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THAT SONG.

IF WE IN THE DARKNESS.

PUT OUR HAND AND FEEL NO AND REACHING BACK WE OF ALL PEOPLE MOST MISERABLE.

BUT TO TAKE MY HAND PRECIOUS LORD IS TO SAY THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY GRIEF AND TRAGEDY, THERE IS ANOTHER HAND REACHING BACK AT THE GOSPEL MINUTES.

>> DOCTOR, GOSPEL IS BORN OUT OF TRAUMA.

AND YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS IN TERMS OF PERSONAL TRAUMA OR THE COLLECTIVE TRAUMA OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE, OF COURSE, WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S ULTIMATELY SO UPLIFTING?

>> IT IS GOOD ABOUT JESUS AND IT IS THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLLS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE SOUTH.

THIS WAS THE PART OF THEM THAT THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM AND THEY LOVED.

THE CHURCH FOUNDATION AND THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN BRACE WITH THIS MUSIC BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY FROM THE SOUTH AND SLAVERY.

IT GOES BACK TO AFRICA.

THAT'S PART OF OUR DNA.

EVEN WHEN THE AFRICANS WASH CLOTHES, THEY WOULD HAVE THE DIFFERENT CHANCE AND THE DIFFERENT SONGS THAT I HEARD RECORDING SOME YEARS BACK AND IT AMAZE ME.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING HE WAS SAYING, BUT THEY HARMONIZE.

THAT WAS PART OF CULTURE.

>> ONE DORSEY'S, OF COURSE, HIS KEY COLLABORATORS WAS THE GREAT MEAL YOU REVEREND 8, WHAT MADE SO SPECIAL AND WHAT MADE HER WRITE FOR THAT MOMENT MUSIC HISTORY, THE 10 AMBER OF HER VOICE, THE WARMTH OF HER SOUL, THE IDENTITY WITH STRUGGLE.

AND THEN SHE WAS A BAD BLACK WOMAN.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE THAT A WOMAN KISSED BY NATURE SITE STRONG, BROAD SHOULDERS AND ALMOST A BARITONE VOICE.

WHO WOULD WHO IS ABLE TO?

IN THE MUSIC ITSELF AT THE VOICE OF SORROW AND TRIAL.

IT WAS HER EXPERIENCE, BOTH I THINK IN STRUGGLE AND WITH THE LORD, I THINK SHE KNEW HOW >> SUSTAIN HER NOTES AND TO FEEL EMBRACE.

AND SHE WAS THE FIRST TO REALLY, I WOULD SAY, COME OUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT I'M SAYING COME OUT IN THE SENSE OUT OF HER RESTRICTED WAY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE CAME IN, WE LEARNED THE EUROPEAN WAY TO WORSHIP.

BUT SHE BROUGHT THAT THE THE MOVEMENT SHE BROUGHT THE SPIRIT.

I WOULD SAY AND THE EXCITEMENT AND I THINK THEY HAVE EVEN PUT A ROAD 100 TIMES BECAUSE SHE WAS SO JUS OVER IT AND THAT TOUCH ALL OF US BECAUSE WE EMOTIONAL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND WE LOVE THAT.

AND WE CAN TAP IN WHAT COMES FROM THE HEART REACHES THE HEART.

AND BEFORE THOMAS DORSEY, GOSPEL MUSIC WAS NOT WIDELY ACCEPTED, FOLKS FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE THE MUSIC OF SATURDAY BUT WITH THE THE LYRICS OF SATURDAY NIGHT, PERHAPS.

BUT WITH THE MUSIC AND THEN THE MESSAGE OF SUNDAY MORNING AND WILL THOMAS DORSEY IS THAT PIONEER?

HE GEORGIA.

TOMCAT.

WHO COME STRAIGHT OUT OF.

>> R AND B AS IT WAS.

AND SO HE FINDS A WAY TO GRAB THAT CULTURAL APPEAL AND WIN IT TO THE LYRICS OF THE GOSPEL.

>> I THINK DOCTOR, NONE IS RIGHT WE CANNOT IGNORE THE SPIRITUAL PART OF MAHALIA JACKSON.

WE COULD TALK INTELLECTUALLY ALL DAY AND EVEN FROM A MUSICAL LOGIC UL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT SHE DID.

BUT THE REALITY IS SHE HAD THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

SO DOCTOR CAIN IS AT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

THIS IS ACTUAL VIDEO FOOTAGE.

THE PLACE IS PACKED AS PART OF THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT AND HE'S RUBBING HIS HEAD LIKE THIS.

HE GETS TO THE MIC.

SHE STANDS UP AND WITHOUT BEING ASKED PROVOCATION.

SHE'S A STAR SINGING.

JOSHUA PUT THE BATTLE JERICHO, SPIRITUALLY.

SHE DISARM SOMETHING.

AND THAT ROOM CAUGHT FIRE AND HE DELIVERED UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE BEST BEACHES IN CHICAGO DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE IT'S SPIRITUAL.

AND I THINK THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THAT AND HEAR THAT AGAIN.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT'S WHY THE WORLD IS STRONG TO THIS GENRE.

GOT TO FIND THAT FOOTAGE.

OKAY.

>> WE INTERVIEWED ONE OF THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE SERIES STACY HOME.

HERE SHE TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF BLACK WOMEN IN GOSPEL, NOT JUST SINGER'S, BUT HAS VERY SAVVY ENTREPRENEURS.

>> BACK TO DORSEY, SALLY HER AND KENNETH MORRIS FARMS.

ONE OF THE MOST, I GUESS THE BEST.

COMPANY THAT WAS SELLING SHEET MUSIC.

SOME OF THESE NAMES, I LIKE MANY MOSQUES, BUT SALLY MARTIN AND EVEN THE KING MAC MEAN, THESE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE REALLY WHO HAD A BUSINESS SAVVY TO THEM.

THAT NEW GOSPEL.

BUT SOMETHING MORE.

DOCTOR KNOWN.

HOW WERE, YOU KNOW, BLACK WOMEN ABLE TO PLAY SUCH A PIVOTAL WHEN THIS, YOU KNOW, SOCIETY AT THE TIME WAS NOT EXACTLY WELCOMING TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, LET ALONE BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

>> WOW, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHERE COMES IN AGAIN BECAUSE SHE NOT ONLY I THINK SHE DID HAIR.

SHE SHE END UP BECOMING A BEAUTY SHOP.

AND THEY RENT FROM HER.

BUT SHE ALSO WAS THE FIRST TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING BECAUSE RCA PICKED UP IN SO MANY OTHER COMPANIES BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T JUST SING FROM TO CHURCH.

SHE ENDED UP BECOMING IN MOVIES IN AND AND IT TOOK OTHER RACES TO PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WE AT THAT TIME YOU CANNOT GET WHERE YOU HAD TO GO.

WITH NOTHING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT BELIEVED IN YOU AND PROMOTING YOU.

SO WHAT PROMOTION SHE WENT AND SHE DID HER MONEY RIGHT?

SHE END UP DYING WEALTHY AND THAT WAS NOT SO WITH GOSPEL MUSIC THAT TIME.

NOW WE HAVE MILLIONAIRES.

NOW WE HAVE THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED, BUT SHE BROKE THE BARRIER.

SO I HAVE TO USE HER AGAIN AS AN EXAMPLE.

4 WEALTH PUTTING A BUSINESS AND SEE AWESOME.

HAHA, RIGHT.

THAT IS WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE THANKS TO REVEREND CHARLIE DIETZ AND DOCTOR SENT JOIN THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN WATCH THE SERIES ON W T TW NEXT MONDAY AT 08:00PM.

AND UP NEXT, A LOOK AT SOME EVENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CITY FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN CHICAGO.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY'S ARTS AND CULTURE AND DON'T QUITE KNOW WHERE TO START, WE'VE OF COURSE, GOT YOU COVERED.

>> OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL EDO JOINS US NOW FOR A BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES.

YEAH, BRENDA.

SO IF YOU GO ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE I MADE A RELIEF UNLESS THE CALL OF A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE AND THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

>> SO STARTING OUT, WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING FROM CONCERTS TO DIFFERENT EXHIBITIONS COMEDY SHOWS AND EVEN AN AFRICAN DRUMS CONCERT WITH THE EYE BILLY DRUM AND DANCE GROUP AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

AND WHAT SO MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM?

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD KIND OF TELL ME WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING, WHETHER IT BE WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY ABOUT YOU THINK YOU COULD ENJOY?

I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY CAME PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT ACTIVITY.

THEY HAVE THAT MANY MOVERS WORKSHOP GOING ON AT THE FIELD MUSEUM.

THEY HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON EVERY WEEKEND.

THERE'S ALSO I O DE DANCE GROUP, AFRICAN DRUMS GROUP THAT WILL BE PERFORMING NEXT WEEKEND.

AND SO THAT'S ALSO REALLY FINE.

THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF FREE PROGRAMMING GOING ON AT NAVY PIER.

THERE'S THE PLAQUE MAKERS MARKET WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCAL VENDORS AS WELL AS GUS ARTISTS WHO ARE CREATING AT NAVY PIER WIVES.

SO YOU GET TO SEE THEM KIND OF KNEE DEEP IN THEIR CRAFT, HANDS OUTSIDE OF THAT.

WE'VE GOT THE BLACK CREATIVITY, JERRED ART EXHIBITION THAT'S GOING ON AT THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

THAT IS AN ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE INTIMATE, THERE IS A CLASSIC BLACK FILM SCREENING GOING ON ALL MONTH LONG AT THE MUSIC BOX THEATER.

AND IN FACT, TOMORROW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING THE WAY IT IS.

SO THAT'S REALLY FUN.

AND THEN OUTSIDE ABOUT THERE'S A NEW COOL EXHIBIT GOING ON THAT VERTICAL CALORIE WITH A VISUAL ARTIST, BIANCA PASO.

SO THERE'S REALLY A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO HARD TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

SO I WILL BE UPDATING THAT LIST THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.

SO YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK BACK IF I'M ANY OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

DON'T SEE YOU.

LOTS OF GOOD STUFF TO GET INTO.

GOOD TO KNOW.

ANGEL, THANK YOU.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THOSE EVENTS AND OTHERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AS ANGEL SAID, IT IS ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND >> IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD IT IS ELECTION SEASON.

THE ILLINOIS PRIMARY IS MARCH 19TH AND THE FIRST DAY OF MAILING FOR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS IS TOMORROW.

OF COURSE WTW NEWS HAS YOU COVERED?

VISIT OUR ONLINE VOTER GUIDE FOR INFORMATION AND VIDEO OF THE CANDIDATE.

IT'S ALL AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH VOTER GUIDE.

AND THANKS TO THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN, VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE GUIDE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES AND GREATEST TREATMENT.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL